ActionAid, Amnesty Int’l demand unconditional release of protesters, flay assault on journalists

The ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) and the Amnesty International-Nigeria have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of protesters arrested during the ‘Take it Back Movement’ protests in parts of the country on Monday. This is contained in separate statements by the helmsmen of the two organisations. ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, expressed outrage at the […]

The ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) and the Amnesty International-Nigeria have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of protesters arrested during the ‘Take it Back Movement’ protests in parts of the country on Monday.

This is contained in separate statements by the helmsmen of the two organisations.

ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, expressed outrage at the shocking and violent crackdown on peaceful protesters in Abuja, Port Harcourt and other parts of Nigeria on Monday, April 7, and Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must immediately direct the Nigeria Police Force to end the repression and ensure the unconditional release of all arrested citizens.

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“The protests, led by the Take-It-Back Movement, were driven by rising anger over the unlawful declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State; the misuse of the Cybercrime Act to silence dissent; and unbearable economic hardship plaguing Nigerians. These are legitimate grievances, not crimes. Yet, the government has responded with force and arrests.

“The directive issued by the Nigerian police to stop the protest on the grounds of ‘National Police Day’ is outrageous, unconstitutional and entirely unacceptable. The Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to peaceful assembly and expression and no police memo can override that. This attempt to suppress dissent is not only unlawful but also deeply cowardly.

“‘Rather than addressing the nation and engaging with young people, the Nigerian police responded with teargas and unlawful arrests of peaceful demonstrators. The president and the Nigerian police must understand that citizens will not tolerate this abuse of power. It is a direct assault on democracy.

“How many more people does this government plan to arrest if millions take to the streets? Do they plan to crush every voice demanding a better future,” Mamedu said.

He said the heavy-handed response to these protests dangerously mirrors the brutality of the now defunct SARS unit.

He said the government must remember the events of the #EndSARS protests, when young Nigerians rose in unity to reject police violence and impunity.

He said, “The citizenry will not allow the nation to take that path again. Now is the time for the president to engage in meaningful, public dialogue with protest leaders and civil society organisations to address the real issues behind these protests.”

The ActionAid Nigeria boss, therefore, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all arrested protesters and an end to the use of force, intimidation and teargas against peaceful citizens.

On his part, the Director of Amnesty International-Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said the police must be held to account for attacking journalists covering the protests.

“The Nigerian authorities must impartially and effectively investigate attacks by the Nigeria police on journalists during peaceful protests yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Charles Oporum of Channels Television and Ikezam Godswill of Africa Independent Television were assaulted by the police with the sole aim of preventing them from doing their job.

“Apart from shooting and the reckless use of tear gas, the police also confiscated cameras and at gunpoint ordered journalists to delete video footages recorded at the scene of the protests. The worrying trend of the police targeting journalists during protests is unlawful,” Sanusi said.

He said Amnesty International has been documenting cases of several journalists and photographers who have been ill-treated by police while trying to cover protests.

Sanusi said on Monday in Port Harcourt, the attacked journalists and photographers were clearly identifiable as media staff, with some of the journalists and photographers saying that they had been subjected to ill-treatment and abusive language by police.

He lamented that gradually, it is becoming the norm for police to assault journalists and damage their equipment during protests.

He said viciously targeting journalists for just doing their job is part of a wider attempt by the government to muzzle dissenting voices in the country.

“Journalists’ presence at protests is not a crime, and the consistent violent attacks on them during protests constitute a growing threat to freedom of the press and human rights enshrined in international law and the Nigerian constitution,” Sanusi said.